Design & Digital Skills
Video editing
Planning, cutting and finishing a short video: clips, the timeline, titles, sound and exporting.
Suits: Students and beginners
Duration, fees and batch timings are quoted by the head office or your centre.
The study book of this course
- Video Editing Basics
- Lessons
- 8
- Practice questions
- 40
- Free ebooks
- 0
About the course
What the video editing course is about
A good video is planned before it is cut. The course starts with shots, framing and a simple storyboard, then moves to organising clips and working on the timeline: trimming, cutting, joining and adding transitions.
Titles and captions, audio levels, music and voice-over, basic colour correction and exporting complete the process. The ideas apply in any editing program.
What you will practise
Drawn from the lessons of the study books below.
- 01
Plan a video with a storyboard and a shot list
- 02
Import, name and organise clips
- 03
Trim, cut and join on the timeline
- 04
Add transitions, titles and captions
- 05
Balance dialogue, music and sound levels
- 06
Export at the right resolution, frame rate and format
What you will learn
8 lessons, 16 exercises
Every lesson of the study book that comes with this course in the student portal, with the key points of each lesson and exercises to try. Your centre gives you the syllabus, the duration and the fee.
Study book
Video Editing Basics
Learn how video works and how to plan shots, organise clips, cut on the timeline, add titles and sound, correct colour and export a finished video, using ideas that hold in any editor.
1How Video Works: Frames, Resolution and Editing Ideas3 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- A video is a series of frames; frame rate is frames per second.
- Resolution is the frame size in pixels; aspect ratio is its shape.
- Editing means choosing and arranging clips, and most editors are non-destructive.
- Follow a workflow from plan to export and always check the final video.
Try this
- Note the resolution and frame rate of a short clip on your phone (check its file details). Work out how many frames it contains.
- Write the eight workflow steps from memory and tick the ones you have already done for any past video.
2Shots, Framing and Storyboarding4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Use wide, medium, close-up and cut-away shots to build a clear story.
- Steady hands, good light and the rule of thirds improve footage.
- A storyboard plans the shot order before recording.
- Take permission and stay safe while filming.
Try this
- Draw a six-panel storyboard for a 30-second video about your school canteen or a local market.
- Record one wide, one medium and one close-up shot of the same object, each for at least ten seconds, and compare them.
3Importing, Organising and the Timeline4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Keep clips in one organised, backed-up project folder.
- The main parts are the media bin, preview, timeline and tools.
- The timeline has tracks, a playhead and snapping to arrange clips.
- Build a rough cut first; the project file is not the finished video.
Try this
- Create a project folder with Video, Audio, Images and Exports sub-folders and rename five clips with clear names.
- Place four clips on the timeline in story order and play the rough cut from start to end.
4Trimming, Cutting and Transitions4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Trim to shorten a clip and split to cut it into parts; the original stays safe.
- Cut on action and remove dead time.
- A plain cut is the most useful transition; use effects with a reason.
- Pacing should suit the mood and audience.
Try this
- Take a two-minute clip and cut it down to 30 seconds by trimming dead time. Note how the story improved.
- Edit the same three clips twice: once with only cuts, once with dissolves. Ask a friend which feels smoother.
5Titles, Captions and Audio4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Titles should be clear, readable and inside the safe area.
- Captions help many viewers and should match the speech.
- Keep speech clear, avoid clipping and keep music lower than voice.
- Record voice-over in a quiet room and respect music copyright.
Try this
- Record a 30-second voice-over in a quiet room and watch the level meter. Redo it if the meter hits the top.
- Add a title and a name caption to a clip and test them on a phone for readability.
6Colour Basics and Exporting4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Correct exposure, contrast, white balance and saturation so clips match.
- MP4 with H.264 plays almost everywhere; keep the resolution and frame rate you shot at.
- File size is roughly bitrate multiplied by duration.
- Always watch the exported file fully before sharing.
Try this
- Export the same 30-second project twice with different bitrates and compare file size and picture quality.
- A video has a bitrate of 4 megabits per second and lasts 120 seconds. Work out its approximate size in megabytes.
7Common Mistakes, Honest Editing and Sharing Responsibly4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Avoid too many effects, bad audio, tiny text and unnecessary long shots.
- A checklist before export catches most errors.
- Edit honestly: never twist words, footage or events to mislead.
- Protect privacy and check platform rules before sharing.
Try this
- Watch one of your older videos and list five mistakes from this lesson that you can find.
- Write your own six-item quality checklist and use it on your next video before sharing it.
8A Short Project from Start to Finish4 min read · 4 key points · 2 exercises
Key points
- Plan a message, storyboard and script before shooting.
- About two words a second means a 60-second script is around 120 words.
- Build, refine, export and then test with real viewers.
- Use a checklist to catch errors before sharing.
Try this
- Complete the 60-second project above and keep the project file and the exported MP4.
- Show your video to two people and write down what they say, then make one improvement based on it.
Glossary: 25 key terms of Video Editing Basics
- Frame
- A single still picture in a video.
- Frame rate
- The number of frames shown each second, measured in fps.
- Resolution
- The width and height of a video frame in pixels.
- Aspect ratio
- The shape of the frame, such as 16:9 or 9:16.
- Non-destructive editing
- Editing that leaves the original clip untouched and only stores instructions.
- Storyboard
- Rough drawings of each planned shot in order.
- Wide shot
- A shot that shows the whole scene and sets the place.
- Close-up
- A shot that fills the frame with a face or a detail.
- Cut-away
- A short shot of something related used to cover a cut or add interest.
- Rule of thirds
- Placing the subject near the lines of a frame divided into nine equal boxes.
- Timeline
- The area of an editor where clips are arranged in time order.
- Track
- A horizontal lane on the timeline that holds video or audio clips.
- Playhead
- The marker that shows the exact moment being viewed on the timeline.
- Rough cut
- A first complete assembly of clips in story order.
- Trim
- To shorten a clip by moving its start or end point.
- Transition
- The way one clip changes to the next, such as a cut or a dissolve.
- Pacing
- The speed and rhythm of a whole video.
- Lower third
- A caption placed in the lower part of the frame, such as a speaker name.
- Captions
- On-screen text of the spoken words.
- Clipping
- Harsh distortion when audio is too loud for the meter.
- Voice-over
- Narration recorded separately and laid over the pictures.
- White balance
- Adjusting colour so that white objects look truly white.
- Bitrate
- The amount of data used for each second of video.
- Codec
- The method used to compress and decompress video or audio.
- Export
- Rendering a project into a single playable video file.
Practice and study material
Study books and timed practice tests in the student portal
Students sign in to read the study books lesson by lesson, print them, mark lessons as done and test themselves with timed practice tests, every answer explained.
- 1study book
- 8lessons
- 40practice questions
- 25glossary terms
How the practice tests work
- Fresh questions each time
Up to 20 questions are picked at random from the subject’s question bank.
- One minute per question
A timer counts down. When it reaches zero, your answers are sent automatically.
- Move around freely
Skip a question, flag it, and come back to change your answer before you submit.
- Learn from every answer
At the end you see the right answer and an explanation for each question.
- Read, print and keep track
Each study book has its lessons, key points, exercises and a glossary. Print a lesson, or mark it as done.
Your centre gives you your login when you enrol.
Try 3 practice questions
Real questions from this course’s question banks. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
What does non-destructive editing mean?
Show the answer
Answer: D. The original clip stays safe while the edit stores instructions
The editor remembers your choices and does not change the source file.
How long should a short title usually stay on screen?
Show the answer
Answer: B. About three seconds so it can be read
Viewers need time to read, and it is wise to allow more than you think.
About how many words of script suit a 60-second voice-over at two words a second?
Show the answer
Answer: D. About 120
60 seconds multiplied by 2 words per second is 120 words.
Careers
Careers this course leads towards
The kind of work these skills are used for. Each guide explains what the job involves, the skills it asks for and how to get started.
Graphic designer and DTP operator
Laying out visiting cards, posters, pamphlets and banners, and preparing files that print correctly.
How admission works
From your first question to your certificate.
The usual steps, at the head office in Delhi or at an authorised member centre.
- Who can join
- Students above 12 years of age.
- Where
- The Delhi head office and authorised member centres.
- Fees and timings
- On WhatsApp at +91 97116 99511, or by phone on 011 2721 1512.
- 1
Ask about the course
Call or WhatsApp the head office, or visit your nearest member centre. Ask for the duration, the fee and the batch timings in writing.
- 2
Fill the admission form
Admission forms are supplied by the head office to every centre.
- 3
Learn in class
Attend your batch at the centre, with the course material and study notes, and sign in to the student portal for the study books and practice tests.
- 4
Take the exam
The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher.
- 5
Receive your certificate
Students who pass get a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet. Employers can verify it with the head office.
Who can join the video editing course?
Students above 12 years of age can take admission, at the Delhi head office or at an authorised member centre. The course suits students and beginners. Tell the head office or your centre what you already know, and they will suggest where to start.
How long is the course and what is the fee?
Duration, fees and batch timings depend on the course and the centre. Ask the head office or your nearest member centre, and get the details in writing before you pay.
Where are the classes?
At the head office in Delhi (A-10, Chief Commissioner Colony, opposite Rana Pratap Bagh) and at authorised member centres. Call or WhatsApp the head office to find the nearest centre.
What do I need to use the study books and practice tests?
A phone or a computer with an internet connection, and the login your centre gives you at enrolment. The student portal opens in an ordinary web browser, so there is nothing to install. Student login.
How do the practice tests work?
Sign in to the student portal and choose a subject. Each test picks up to 20 questions at random from that subject’s question bank and gives you one minute per question, with a timer that sends your answers automatically when it reaches zero. You can skip a question, flag it and come back before you submit, and at the end you see the right answer and an explanation for every question. This course has 40 practice questions across 1 subject, and you can take the tests as often as you like.
Is there an exam and a certificate?
Yes. The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher. Students who pass receive a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet.
How is a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate verified?
On the verify certificate page, anyone can enter a certificate number and check it against the institute’s online register, which covers certificates issued through the portal. For older certificates, or if there is any doubt, send a copy to the head office by email or WhatsApp; the reply comes within 2 working days.
Ready to start the video editing course?
Ask the head office for the duration, the fee, the batch timings and your nearest member centre.